The United States and Japan will step up their defence cooperation to deal with the threat from nuclear-armed North Korea as tensions in East Asia remain high, officials from the two allies said on Thursday.

ALP wipeout fears fade in Tasmania

Labor is hopeful fears of a Tasmanian wipeout in the federal election won't be realised under Kevin Rudd.

The ALP occupies four of the island state's five seats and polls suggested all were vulnerable despite healthy margins while former prime minister Julia Gillard remained at the helm.

Bass and Braddon in the north were considered as good as gone by some, while tough fights were predicted for the long-serving Dick Adams in Lyons and Gillard government front-bencher Julie Collins in Franklin.

Tasmania's fifth seat, the Hobart-based Denison, is likely to be retained by high profile independent Andrew Wilkie.

Labor can be buoyed by the fact the Liberal party recorded its lowest vote ever in the state in 2010.

The ALP's vote then, under Ms Gillard, was better than under Mr Rudd three years earlier.

"They'll vote on Tasmanian issues and that's what's giving me some comfort because the coalition have not articulated anything for Tasmania," state secretary John Dowling told AAP.

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But that may be wishful thinking in the state with the highest unemployment in the country and an unpopular Labor-Greens state government.

The ailing forestry sector has dominated local debate and Ms Gillard recently fast-tracked $100 million for its downsizing in the wake of the controversial peace deal between environmentalists and the industry.

The opposition says the forestry sector needs a plan for growth.

Mr Wilkie is unlikely to again be in a position influential enough to attract the hundreds of millions of dollars that have flowed to his electorate.

But polling strongly suggests he will be returned to a seat Labor held for 23 years before 2010.

"I'm travelling well right now but whether or not I can hold the seat remains to be seen," he said.

"I'm certainly not taking anything for granted, not least because that's how the Labor Party lost the seat to me three years ago."

Greens senator Peter Whish-Wilson, who replaced former leader Bob Brown, is considered likely to retain his seat.